Question and Answer session held 16 June 2008 with Dom and Vida Carlino from Greenedge, our development company in WA, Lyndall and David Parris and other SCEV Association members.

In an opening round people introduced themselves and posed the following questions to Dom and Vida:

1. What is the Status of SCEV land?
   
   We are currently settling the sale conditions and price with the vendor of the Gosford Horticultural Institute at Narara, to be completed by mid July and Dave and Lyndall, have funded a valuation report which will form the basis of our price.
    

2. Please describe the development and financial aspect of the ecovillage?
   
   The SCEV is to be developed using the evolving Greenedge ‘Making Ecovillages Happen’ model on which Somerville ecovillage in WA is based. SCEV project initiators have adopted this model as a way to ‘stand on the shoulders of experience’, to minimise time and maximise the chance of success. This model will be used as a guide for our group.
   
   The financial arrangements for the purchase and development of the ecovillage will probably use equity funding supplied by the Greenedge Ethical Investment Fund (GEIF) - a company due to be publically listed later this year, and debt funding by intending residents and friends through a debenture vehicle. The legal structure to be set up aims to provide intending residents with a real sense of belonging, ownership, camaraderie and common purpose.
    
   In the lead-up to the launch of these funding mechanisms, we would like to invite you to directly become a stakeholder in this important and exciting project……watch for an email coming to you shortly. In the meantime it is imperative that you join our Association, please do this right now.
    

3. How will SCEV be run and deal with difficult people? --> Governance.
   
   We want to encourage diversity and regard the ongoing evolution of our values, culture, and governance as vitally important. We are wary of giving anyone, including difficult people, too much say before they understand the history of SCEV and have demonstrated their commitment. Vida also mentioned that it is important for new people to become part of what is here before they try to change it.
   
   When values were discussed at a recent Sunday gathering of SCEV, the following were thought to be important: Friendliness, Flexibility, Joyfulness, Consideration, Creativity, Gentleness, Honesty, Health, Courage, Purposefulness, Kindness, Justice, Respect, Creativity, Enthusiasm, Diversity, Love, Honour, Orderliness, Love, Co-operation, Humour and Egalitarianism.
   
   We are also in the process of investigating various ways of making decisions together. One process that we are exploring is called Sociocracy (google) and various Association members feel that it is an inclusive, transparent, efficient structure which will help build our culture and the SCEV ‘way’.
   
   As our governance and processes evolve and decisions are reached, some people will feel that the SCEV is not for them and leave us. However the SCEV values diversity and another way to look at ‘difficult people’ is to regard them as Edward de Bono’s ‘Black Hat’ person who may help us avoid unforeseen traps and be valued and appreciated.
    

4. What is the process of selection?
   
   In light of comments in No 3 above, people will self-select. Joining us will mean that they are excited by and attracted to the evolving SCEV lifestyle. Those who don’t like what is being developed will be free to leave.
    

5. How do you get out of it?
   
   Owners will have a clear title and can sell their properties in the market place and renters will simply terminate according to their lease agreement - both in the usual way.
   
    

6. Will there be any limitations on building?
   
   There will be limitations on building and a few of them are already outlined in the ‘Givens’ which are displayed on the SCEV website (scev.org.au). We are developing a sustainable ecovillage which aims to reduce our human footprint, balance a sense of belonging with our need for privacy, and promote health - all things which will feed into our design brief for buildings.
    

7. How confident are you in securing Narara?
   
   VERY- Lyndall has already moved in!
    

8. What is the Hybrid model?
   
   Dom spoke here about the two-pronged financing approach as outlined in No 2 above. In the past when Lyndall has spoken about the hybrid model, she has been referring to the middle path that SCEV is taking working with the Greenedge development company - somewhere between the typical Developer Model, whereby the developer runs the show with virtually no consultation with Intending Residents and the other end of the spectrum, where a group of Intending Residents decide to embark on what is a major development with little experience. We see a distinct advantage taking this middle ground.
    

9. What do we do to make it happen?
   
   At this point we need to concentrate on securing the land, working to attract interested people and getting to know each other. Once again, please be on the look out for another email coming very soon.
   
    

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